Cordless telephone apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a cordless telephone apparatus including a base unit and a sub unit connected with each other by wireless, the base unit has a memory for storing therein telephone number data which are referred to from the sub unit. When the base unit is busy, the transfer of a calling signal between the sub and base units is not performed. The access from the sub unit to the memory of the base unit is always permitted. The memory includes a callers area in which the telephone numbers of callers of received calls and the reception times of the calls are stored and a directory area in which frequently called telephone numbers and the number of placing calls of the numbers are stored. The telephone numbers in the callers area are retrieved based on the reception times. The telephone numbers in the directory area are retrieved based on the numbers of placing calls. By adding the number of placing calls of the telephone number stored in the callers area to the number of placing calls of the telephone number stored in the directory area, the telephone number retrieval from the directory area functions correctly. Moreover, by using the cordless telephone apparatus as a terminal apparatus of a private telephone system, data stored in a main apparatus of the system are referred to from the sub unit of the terminal apparatus.

This is a divisional, of application Ser. No. 08/350,021 filed Nov. 29,1994.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cordless telephone apparatusincluding a base unit and a sub unit connected with each other bywireless, and more particularly, to a telephone apparatus provided witha function to retrieve and transmit telephone number data stored in theapparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In recent years, a cordless telephone apparatus has rapidly beenspreading which includes a base unit connected to the telephone line anda sub unit connected to the base unit by wireless. In such a telephoneapparatus, calls can be made with the sub unit at a place away from thebase unit by connecting the sub unit to the telephone line through thebase unit.

Generally, the base unit is also provided with the transmitting andreceiving functions, so that calls can be made not only with the subunit but also with the base unit. In this case, to protect the privacy,it is necessary to take some measures to prevent the contents of callsmade with the base or sub unit from being monitored through the otherunit. For this purpose, for example, Japanese Published PatentApplication H4-8983 discloses a cordless telephone apparatus where theaccess from the sub unit is inhibited when the base unit is busy.

A telephone apparatus is widely used which has a directory function toreduce the number of operations for calling by registering and storing aplurality of frequently called telephone numbers in the telephoneapparatus and retrieving a registered telephone number by a few keyoperations. With such a telephone apparatus, the time required for theconnection to the telephone lines is reduced and the mis-input oftelephone numbers is prevented, so that calling is efficientlyperformed. The telephone numbers to be registered are stored in arewritable memory area called a directory area, and modifications suchas addition, change and deletion can be made by the user.

A telephone apparatus has also spread which has a callers function tostore callers' telephone numbers. At a switching station in a telephoneservice facility, the telephone number data of the caller is transmittedduring a dormant period when the reception signal is transmitted to thereceiver. The telephone apparatus of the receiver receives andautomatically stores the telephone number data. The callers' telephonenumbers are stored in a memory area called a callers area and displayedby an operation by the user. Thereby, the user can find the telephonenumber of a caller who made a call in the user's absence. Further, thedisplayed telephone number can be used to place a call, so that it isunnecessary to input the number. A plurality of numbers can be stored,and the addition and deletion of numbers are possible since the callersarea is also rewritable.

When a cordless telephone apparatus is provided with the function tostore telephone numbers, the callers area and the directory area arenormally provided in the base unit. The display for displaying atelephone number is usually provided in the sub unit which is morefrequently used. Thus, the user accesses the memory area of the baseunit from the sub unit to refer to the telephone numbers stored therein.Since the sub unit is desirably small-sized and lightweight, the size ofthe display provided in the sub unit is reduced to the extent thatinformation on one telephone number can be displayed.

In such an arrangement, the base unit receives a telephone numberreference request from the sub unit, and retrieves one telephone numberfrom the memory area to transmit the number. In the sub unit, the numbertransmitted from the base unit is displayed by the display. When thetelephone number is not the necessary one, the user transmits areference request again. The base unit retrieves another telephonenumber and transmits it. This operation is repeated until the necessarytelephone number is displayed.

As the method to retrieve a telephone number in the directory area, forexample, the following methods are known: a method as disclosed inJapanese Laid-open Patent Application No. S64-89847 where a key wordsuch as the name is stored together with the telephone number and thetelephone number is retrieved with reference to the key word; and amethod as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No.H3-171857 where the telephone numbers are divided into groups.

According to these methods, however, since more frequently calledtelephone numbers are not always retrieved sooner, the retrieval takes along time, and many steps of operations are required. To solve thisproblem, the Applicant of the present invention proposes in JapaneseLaid open Patent Application No. H4-144345 a method to display thetelephone numbers in the order of the number of placing calls. In thiscase, the number of placing calls is stored together with the telephonenumber and increased by one every time the number is called. Theretrieval is made with reference to the number of placing calls recordedin the telephone number data. According to this method, more frequentlyused number are retrieved sooner, so that the time required for theretrieval and the number of operations by the user are reduced on theaverage, whereby the efficiency in placing a call improves as a whole.

The retrieval of telephone numbers in the callers area is normally madebased on a reception time. Specifically, a telephone number of theearliest call is retrieved first, and thereafter, telephone numbers areretrieved in the order of reception time.

Telephone apparatuses are on the market which are provided with both thedirectory function and the callers function. The telephone number datastored in the directory area and the telephone number data stored in thecallers area are separately controlled. For this reason, the calling byuse of the callers function has no effect on the telephone number datain the directory area. This is a serious problem when the retrieval fromthe directory area is made based on the number of placing calls. Thatis, since the number of placing calls of the telephone number data inthe directory area is not renewed when a call is placed according to thecallers function, the retrieval is not made in the correct order in theretrieval from the directory area. Then, this function is meaningless.

In the telephone apparatus where the access from the sub unit to thebase unit is inhibited when the base unit is busy, the telephone numbersin the callers area cannot be referred to and the data in the directoryarea cannot be modified when the base unit is busy. There is a privatetelephone system including a main apparatus connected to the publictelephone line and a plurality of terminal telephone apparatusesconnected to the main apparatus, where information stored in the mainapparatus can be referred to from the terminal apparatuses. In such aprivate telephone system, the terminal telephone apparatuses may becordless telephone apparatuses each comprising a base unit and a subunit. However, if the access from the sub unit is inhibited when thebase unit is busy, it is impossible to access the main apparatus fromthe sub unit, so that the information stored in the recording medium ofthe main apparatus cannot be referred to.

Some sub units are designed so that the receiver's telephone number tobe called is displayed by the display when a call is placed. Thisenables the user to confirm the telephone number before calling. Thetelephone number is displayed when a call is placed with the base unitas well as with the sub unit. In a cordless telephone apparatus having abase unit provided with no display, when a call is placed with the baseunit, the telephone number to be called is confirmed through the displayon the sub unit, if the sub unit is placed nearby.

However, the base unit is frequently used when the sub unit is away fromthe base unit. In such a case, it is a useless irradiation of theelectric wave and a waste of electric power to cause the sub unit todisplay the telephone number which cannot be seen by the user. Further,it is a problem in the protection of privacy that the display of thetelephone number to be called is displayed on the sub unit.

Thus, in conventional cordless telephone apparatuses have variousproblems in the control of the telephone data and in the efficiency inthe data transfer between the base and sub units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency in datatransfer between the base and sub units and to improve a method tocontrol telephone number data in a cordless telephone apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency indata transfer and data control while more securely protecting theprivacy of the user of the apparatus.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, according to the presentinvention, in a cordless telephone apparatus where a call can be madewith both the sub and base units and the telephone number data arestored in the base unit, the access from the sub unit to the telephonenumber data stored in the base unit is permitted whether the base unitis busy or not. When the base unit is busy, it is inhibited to monitorthe call from the sub unit. With these features, the telephone numberdata stored in the base unit can be accessed from the sub unit at anytime, and the privacy of the user of the base unit is protected.

The base units has two telephone number data storing areas: a directoryarea and a callers area. The data in the directory area are retrievedbased on corresponding numbers of placing calls, and the data in thecallers area are retrieved based on corresponding reception times. Whena call is placed by use of a telephone number stored in the callersarea, the number of placing calls included in the telephone number datain the directory area is renewed. By this setting, the data in thedirectory area always includes correct numbers of placing calls, so thatthe data retrieval based on the numbers of placing calls alwaysfunctions correctly.

The sub unit apparatus has a display capable of displaying one telephonenumber data to display the telephone number data retrieved from thedirectory or callers area. The sub unit also has keys for controllingthe directory function and the callers function in addition to dial keysfor inputting a telephone number. The user of the sub unit instructs thedata retrieval with these keys so that the telephone number data aredisplayed by the display one by one if necessary. The telephone numberdata in the directory area retrieved in the above-described manner aredisplayed in the descending order of the number of placing calls, sothat it is more likely that the necessary telephone number is displayedsooner. As a result, the time required for calling and the number of keyoperations are reduced.

A receiver's telephone number to be called is displayed by the displaywhen a call is placed with the sub or the base unit. The receiver'stelephone number is always displayed when a call is placed with the subunit. When a call is placed with the base unit apparatus, the display ofthe receiver's telephone number is provided only when the sub unit isplaced on the base unit or just after it is lifted from the base unit.When a call is placed with the base unit with the sub unit being awayfrom the base unit, the telephone number is not transmitted to the subunit by wireless. For this reason, the useless irradiation of theelectric wave and the waste of electric power are prevented. Inaddition, since the telephone number dialed at the base unit is notdisplayed by the display of the sub unit, the privacy of the user of thebase unit is protected.

The cordless telephone apparatus having the above-described features canbe employed as a terminal apparatus in a private telephone system wherea plurality of terminal apparatuses are connected to a main apparatus.In this case, the data stored in the storing area provided in the mainapparatus can be referred to from the terminal apparatuses. The accessfrom the sub unit to the main apparatus is possible even when the baseunit of the terminal apparatus is busy, so that the access from the subunit to the data is made at any time. Further, the callers area and thedirectory area may be provided in the main apparatus. In that case, anidentification code is provided to each terminal telephone apparatus,and the telephone number data stored in the main apparatus are protectedand controlled based on the identification code. The access to the datafrom the terminal apparatus is permitted only when the identificationcodes coincide with each other. In the private telephone system havingsuch features, the telephone number data can be controlled collectively,and the access from outsiders to the telephone number data is limited sothat the secrecy is protected. In addition, the access from the sub unitto the telephone number data is possible even when the base unit isbusy, so that the efficiency in data transfer between the sub unit andthe main apparatus improves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of this invention will become clearfrom the following description, taken in conjunction with the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanied drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a base unit of acordless telephone apparatus according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a sub unitaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a processing performed by the sub unit toregister a telephone number in a directory area in the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a processing performed by the base unit toregister a telephone number in the directory area in the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a processing performed by the sub unit when acall is placed with the sub unit in the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a processing performed by the base unit when acall is placed with the sub unit in the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a processing performed by the sub unit when acall is placed with the sub unit in a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a processing performed by the base unit when acall is placed with the sub unit in the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a projected perspective view showing a cordless telephoneapparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the base unit inthe third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the sub unit inthe third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a processing performed by the base unit when acall is placed with the base unit in the third embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a privatetelephone system according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams respectively showing the arrangementsof abase unit 1 and a sub unit 5 of a cordless telephone apparatusaccording toa first embodiment of the present invention. The base unit 1is provided with a line connecting circuit 11, and connected to anddisconnected from a telephone line L by the closing and opening of theline connecting circuit 11. The base unit 1 is also provided with anantenna 12 for wireless signal transfer with the sub unit 5. To theantenna 12, a transmitting circuit 13 for transmission to the sub unit 5and a receivingcircuit 14 for reception from the sub unit 5 areconnected. The transmitting circuit 13 and the receiving circuit 14 areconnected to a changeover circuit 15. The base unit 1 is provided with ahandset 16 for making and receiving calls. The handset 16 is connectedto the changeover circuit 15. The attachment and detachment of thehandset 16 to and from the body of the base unit 1 are detected by ahook detecting circuit 17.

The changeover circuit 15 is provided to make a changeover betweencalling with the base unit 1 by use of the handset 16 and calling withthe sub unit 5 through the transmitting and receiving circuits 13 and14. The changeover circuit 15 is connected to the line connectingcircuit 11 through a hybrid circuit 18. The telephone line L consists oftwo lines, and the line between the changeover circuit 15 and thehandset 16 and the line between the changeover circuit and thetransmitting and receiving circuits 13 and 14 each consist of fourlines, so that the hybrid circuit 18 makes a 2 line to 4 lineconversion.

A reception detecting circuit 19 for detecting the reception and acaller information detecting circuit 20 for detecting the telephonenumber data of a caller transmitted from the switching station areprovided to be connected directly to the telephone line L. To the lineconnecting circuit11, a dial transmitting circuit 21 for transmitting adial signal is connected. Further, dial keys 22 are provided forinputting numbers.

The base unit apparatus 1 is provided with a controlling circuit 10including a microcomputer to control the circuits. The controllingcircuit10 controls the line connecting circuit 11 to make the connectionand disconnection to and from the telephone line L, and controls thechangeover circuit 15 to make a changeover between a connection betweenthe hybrid circuit 18 and the handset 16 and a connection between thehybrid circuit 18 and the transmitting and receiving circuits 13 and 14.Further, when a call is placed, the controlling circuit 10 controls thedial transmitting circuit 21 to generate a dial signal. The controllingcircuit 10 is also connected to the transmitting circuit 13, thereceivingcircuit 14, the hook detecting circuit 17, the receptiondetecting circuit 19, the caller information detecting circuit 20 andthe dial keys 22.

The base unit 1 has a rewritable memory 23 including a directory area 3forstoring frequently called telephone numbers and a callers area 2 forstoring callers' telephone numbers. The memory 23 is controlled by thecontrolling circuit 10. Table 1 shows examples of the telephone numberdata stored in the callers area 2 and the directory area 3. Thetelephone number data of a caller detected by the caller informationdetecting circuit 20 is stored in the callers area 2 together with thereception time which is transmitted from the switching station with thetelephone number. In the directory area 3, the number of placing callsof a telephone number is stored together with the telephone number. Thestorageof the telephone number data in the directory area 3 is performedby using the sub unit 5.

Referring to FIG. 2, the sub unit 5 has an antenna 52 for signaltransfer with the base unit 1. To the antenna 52, a receiving circuit 54for signalreception from the base unit and a transmitting circuit 53 fortransmissionto the base unit 1 are connected. To the receiving circuit54, a speaker 56is connected through an amplifier 59. To thetransmitting circuit 53, a microphone 57 is connected through anamplifier 60. Further, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 55 for displayingthe telephone number data, a bell 58 for generating a call sound when acall is received, and a controlling circuit 50 including amicroprocessor are provided. The transmitting circuit 53, the receivingcircuit 54, the LCD 55 and the bell 58 are connected to the controllingcircuit 50.

A key circuit 61 for the user to perform various operations is providedto be connected to the controlling circuit 50. The key circuit 61 isprovidedwith dial keys 62 for inputting numbers, a calling key 63 forgenerating a calling request, a callers key 64 for generating a requestof access to the callers area 2 of the base unit 1, an end key 65 forgenerating an operation end signal, a directory key 66 for generating arequest of access to the directory area 3 of the base unit 1, aregistering key 67 for generating a request to register a telephonenumber in the directory area 3, and a cursor key 68 for generating arequest of the next retrievalof data stored in the callers or directoryarea.

The cordless telephone apparatus of this embodiment including the baseunit1 and the sub unit 51 and having the above-described arrangementoperates in a subsequently described manner.

When a call is received, first, the reception detecting circuit 19 ofthe base unit 1 detects the reception and the caller informationdetecting circuit 20 detects the telephone number data of the caller.The detected telephone number of the caller is transmitted to the memory23 by the controlling circuit 10 and stored in the callers area 2. Inresponse to the detection of the reception by the reception detectingcircuit 19, the controlling circuit 10 instructs the transmittingcircuit 13 to generate areception signal, so that a reception signal isgenerated by the transmitting circuit 30. The controlling circuit 10also instructs the transmitting circuit 13 to transmit the telephonenumber data of the caller to the sub unit 5. The receiving circuit 54 ofthe sub unit 5 receives the reception signal and the telephone numberdata from the base unit 1 and transmits it to the controlling circuit50. The controlling circuit 50 rings the bell 58 to notify the user thata call has been received. The telephone number data of the caller isdisplayed on the LCD 55. In response thereto, the user presses thecalling key 63 of the sub unit 5 or takes up the handset 16.

When the calling key 63 is pressed, the controlling circuit 50 of thesub unit 5 causes the transmitting circuit 53 to transmit a responsesignal. Receiving the response signal through the receiving circuit 14,the controlling circuit 10 of the base unit 1 controls the changeovercircuit 15 to connect the transmitting and receiving circuits 13 and 14to the hybrid circuit 18 and controls the line connecting circuit 11 tomake a connection to the telephone line L. Thereby, the sub unit 5 isconnected to the base unit 1 by wireless and further to the telephoneline L, so that the calling with the sub unit 5 is enabled. The usermakes a call by use of the microphone 57 and the speaker 56 of the subunit 5.

When the handset 16 is taken up, the hook detecting circuit 17 detectsthatthe handset 16 has been unhooked, and the controlling circuit 10controls the changeover circuit 15 to connect the handset 16 to thehybrid circuit 18, and causes the line connecting circuit 11 to make aconnection to the telephone line L. Thereby, the calling with the baseunit 1 is enabled, and the user makes a call by use of the handset 16.The controlling circuit 10 causes the transmitting circuit 13 totransmit a signal indicating that the base unit is busy, to stop thebell 58 and display of the telephone number data of the caller on LCD55.

The caller information detecting circuit 20 is connected to thetelephone line L not through the line connecting circuit 11 butdirectly, so that the caller's telephone number data is detected eventhough the connection to the telephone line L is not made. That is, evenwhen there is a call inthe user's absence, the telephone number of thecaller is detected and stored in the callers area 2.

In placing a call, the operations to be performed by the user and theapparatus differ between the case where a data in the callers ordirectoryarea is used and the case where the telephone number isdirectly inputted. First, the case where the telephone number isdirectly inputted will be described.

To place a call with the sub unit 5, the user presses the calling key 63ofthe key circuit 61 of the sub unit 5 and inputs a telephone number byuse of the dial keys 62. At this time, the inputted telephone number isdisplayed by the LCD 55 so that the user may confirm it. After thetelephone number is inputted, the controlling circuit 50 causes thetransmitting circuit 53 to transmit the telephone number. The base unit1 receives the number through the receiving circuit 14, so that thecontrolling circuit 10 controls the changeover circuit 15 to connect thetransmitting and receiving circuits 13 and 14 to the hybrid circuit 18.The controlling circuit 10 also controls the line connecting circuit 11tomake a connection to the telephone line L, so that the receivedtelephone number is transmitted by the dial transmitting circuit

To place a call with the base unit 1, the user takes up the handset 16and inputs a telephone number by use of the dial keys 22. The hookdetecting circuit 17 detects that the handset 16 is unhooked, so thatthe controlling circuit 10 controls the changeover circuit 15 to connectthe handset 16 to the hybrid circuit 18 and controls the line connectingcircuit 11 to make a connection to the telephone line L. Further, thecontrol circuit 10 causes the dial transmitting circuit 21 to transmitthetelephone number inputted by use of the dial keys 22. In addition,the controlling circuit 10 causes the transmitting circuit 13 totransmit the inputted number to the sub unit 5, where the receivednumber is displayed by the LCD 55. When the sub unit 5 is near the baseunit 1, the user can confirm the inputted number through the display ofthe sub unit 5.

The call according to the callers or directory function using thetelephonenumber data in the callers or directory area 2 or 3 is placedwith the sub unit 5. The user operates the callers key 64 or thedirectory key 66 to retrieve a necessary telephone number data from thememory 23 of the base unit 1. The operation of access to the memory 23and corresponding processings performed by the sub and base units 5 and1 will be described later in detail. The retrieved telephone number datais displayed by the LCD 55 of the sub unit 5. After confirming that thenumber is the necessary number, the user operates the calling key 63 torequest a call. Thereafter, the sub and base units 5 and 1 operate in amanner similar to that of the case where the telephone number isdirectly inputted at the sub unit 5, so that the sub unit 5 is connectedto the telephone line L toenable the calling with the sub unit 5. Whenthe connection to the telephone line L is made, the controlling circuit10 of the base unit 1 renews a part of the data in the memory 23 asdescribed later.

The registration of a new telephone number data in the directory area 3in the cordless telephone apparatus of this embodiment will bedescribed. Theprocessings performed by the sub and base units 5 and 1 inthe registrationin the directory area are shown by the flowcharts ofFIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. When the registering key 67 of the keycircuit 61 of the subunit 5 is operated, the controlling circuit 50 ofthe sub unit 5 detects itat step C1 of FIG. 3. Then, the controllingcircuit 50 monitors the input of numbers by use of the dial keys 62 atstep C2, and temporarily stores the inputted numbers in an internalregister at step C3. When it is detected at step C4 that the registeringkey 67 is operated again, a setting registration signal is transmittedto the base unit 1 at step C5, and the number data stored in theinternal register are transmitted at step C6 in the order of storage.

Detecting the reception of the setting registration signal at step S1 ofFIG. 4, the base unit 1 enters a mode of registration in the directoryarea 3. The base unit 1 receives the number data at step S2, sets thenumber of placing calls to 0 at step S3, and stores the number ofplacing calls together with the number data in the directory area 3 atstep S4. Thereby, the registration of the telephone number data in thedirectory area 3 is completed. Then, the base unit 1 goes out of theregistration mode.

Although not shown, when the entire of the directory area 3 is used, aprocessing to delete unnecessary data is performed prior to the dataregistration.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts of control processings performed by the suband base units 5 and 1 when a call is placed. The user operates thecallers key 64 or the directory key 66 or the calling key 63 of the keycircuit 61 of the sub unit 5 to start a calling operation. In the subunit5, the key input is detected at step C11 or C12 or C13 of FIG. 5 toperforma corresponding calling operation. In the base unit 1, a signalfrom the sub unit 5 is received at step S11 or S12 or S13 of FIG. 6 toperform the corresponding calling operation.

First, a processing will be described which is performed when a call isplaced by using a telephone number stored in the callers area 2. Thecontrolling circuit 50 of the sub unit 5 detects an operation of thecallers key 64 at step C11, and transmits a callers retrieval signal tothe base unit 1 at step C14. In the callers area 2, a plurality of dataeach consisting of the telephone number of a caller and the receptiontimeof the call are stored. The data retrieval from the callers area 2is made based on the reception time. The controlling circuit 10 of thebase unit 1receives the callers retrieval signal from the sub unit 5 atstep S11, and retrieves the telephone number data of the earliest callfrom the callers area 2 and transmits it to the sub unit 5. Thecontrolling circuit 50 of the sub unit 5 detects the reception of thetelephone number data at step C16, and causes the LCD 55 to display thetelephone number and the reception time at step C17.

When the displayed telephone number is not the necessary one, the useroperates the cursor key 68. The sub unit 5 detects it at step C18 andtransmits a change signal to the base unit 1 at step C19. The base unit1 detects the change signal at step S16, and retrieves the telephonenumber data of the second earliest call and transmits it at step S17. Inthe sub unit 5, the process returns to step C16 and the newlytransmitted telephone number data is displayed at step C17. Thus, theuser operates the cursor key 68 until the necessary telephone number isdisplayed. When the cursor key 68 is further operated after all the datain the callers area are transmitted to the sub unit 5, the base unit 1retrieves the earliest data and performs the data transmission of stepS17.

When the necessary telephone number is displayed by the LCD 55, the useroperates the calling key 63. The sub unit 5 detects it at step C20,transmits a calling signal to the base unit 1 at step C26 and waitsuntil a signal from the base unit 1 is detected at either step C27 orstep C28. The base unit 1 detects the calling signal at step S18, anddetects the hooking condition of the handset 16 by the hook detectingcircuit 17 to determine whether the base unit 1 is busy or not at stepS23. When the handset 16 is hooked, at step S24, a response signal istransmitted to thesub unit 5, and the changeover circuit 15 iscontrolled to connect the transmitting and receiving circuits 13 and 14to the hybrid circuit 18 andthe line connecting circuit 11 is caused tomake a connection to the telephone line L. When the handset 16 isunhooked, it is determined that the base unit 1 is busy, so that a busysignal is transmitted at step S25.The sub unit 5 detects the busy signalat step C28, and stops the calling according to the callers function tomove to another processing. When the response signal is detected at stepC27, the sub unit 5 transmits the telephone number displayed by the LCD55 to the base unit 1 at step C29 and enters a calling mode.

The base unit 1 receives the telephone number from the sub unit 5 atstep S26 and causes the dial transmitting circuit to transmit the numberat step S27. Then, the process proceeds to step S28 to detect whetherthe transmitted telephone number is stored in the directory area 3 ornot. When the transmitted telephone number is present in the directoryarea 3, the number of placing calls of the number is increased by one torenew thetelephone number data in the directory area

The processing of step C18 and succeeding steps of the sub unit 5 isstopped by pressing the end key 65. When it is detected at step C24 thatthe end key has been operated, an end signal is transmitted to the baseunit 1 at step C25, and the sub unit 5 moves to another processing. Whenthe end signal is received at step S22, the base unit 1 stops theretrieval from the callers area 2 and moves to another processing.

The calling according to the callers function is made by theabove-described processing. In this embodiment, in the calling accordingto the callers function, the data in the callers area 2 is not renewedbutis only referred to. On the contrary, the data in the directory area3 is renewed, so that correct numbers of placing calls are alwaysstored.

The telephone number data in the callers area 2 is renewed every time acall is received. At this time, when the call is from a telephone numberhaving already been stored in the callers area 2, the reception time ofthe telephone number is renewed. When the call is from a telephonenumber not stored in the callers area 2, the telephone number and thereception time are stored. When the entire of the callers area 2 isused, the oldestdata is deleted prior to the addition of the newtelephone number data.

When a call is placed by using the telephone number data stored in thedirectory area 3, the following processing is performed. The sub unit 5detects at step C12 of FIG. 5 that the directory key 66 has beenoperated,and transmits a directory retrieval signal to the base unit 1at step C15. In the directory area 3, a plurality of data eachconsisting of a telephone number and the number of placing calls of thetelephone number are stored. The data retrieval from the directory area3 is made based on the number of placing calls. The base unit 1 detectsthe directory retrieval signal at step S12 of FIG. 6, and selects themost frequently used telephone number and transmits it to the sub unit 5at step S15.

The operations performed by the user are the same as those of thecalling according to the callers function. The processing performed inthe sub unit 5 is different only in that the number of placing calls isdisplayed together with the telephone number at step C17. The processingperformed in the base unit 1 is the same as that of the callingaccording to the callers function except that the data in the directoryarea 3 are transmitted in the order of the number of placing calls atstep S17. In the calling according to the directory function, the numberof placing calls is increased by one at step S28 of FIG. 6 so that thedata in the directory area 3 is renewed. Thereby, the data retrievalbased on the number of placing calls always functions correctly.

When the callers key 64 and the directory key 66 are not operated andthe calling key 67 is operated, the previously-described calling withthe sub unit 5 by inputting a telephone number is performed. When anoperation of the calling key 67 is detected at step S13 of FIG. 5, thesub unit 5 transmits a calling signal to the base unit 1 at step C30.The base unit 1detects the reception of the calling signal at step S13of FIG. 6, and performs a previously-described processing of step S23and succeeding steps. The sub unit 5 detects a response signal from thebase unit 1 at step C31, and receives the telephone number inputted bymeans of the dial keys at step C33. When the telephone number isinputted to predetermined figures, the inputted telephone number istransmitted to the base unit 1 at step C34.

In this case, whether the transmitted telephone number is present in thedirectory area 3 or not is also detected at step S28 of FIG. 6. When itispresent, the number of placing calls of the telephone number isincreased by one. Thus, in making a call by inputting the telephonenumber, the number of placing calls is renewed, which is reflected inthe data retrieval based on the number of placing calls. Moreover,although not shown, this processing is also performed when a call ismade with the baseunit 1. When the transmitted telephone number is notpresent in the directory area 3, the automatic addition of data is notmade.

As described above, in the cordless telephone apparatus of thisembodiment,the base unit 1 accepts the callers retrieval signal and thedirectory retrieval signal irrespective of the setting of the changeovercircuit 15,and retrieves the telephone number data stored in the memory23. Therefore,it is possible to access from the sub unit 5 to thetelephone number data in the callers area 2 and in the directory area 3of the base unit 1 even when the base unit 1 is busy, and the datatransfer between the base and sub units 1 and 5 can be performed at anytime. Since the number of placing calls of the telephone number data inthe directory area 3 is automatically renewed, the data retrieval basedon the number of placing calls always functions correctly. When the baseunit 1 is busy, the handset 16 is connected to the hybrid circuit 18 andthe transmitting and receiving circuits 13 and 14 are not connected tothe hybrid circuit 18, so that the call cannot be monitored through thesub unit 5. Thus, the privacy of the user of the base unit 1 isprotected. Further, since the telephone number is not stored when a callis placed by inputting the telephone number by means of the dial keys,it is prevented that unnecessary telephone numbers are registered, sothat the privacy is protected.

A cordless telephone apparatus according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention will be described. This embodiment is different fromthefirst embodiment in the method of controlling the data in the callersarea 2 and in the directory area 3 of the memory 23. The contents ofstorage ofthe memory 23 of the base unit 1 in this embodiment are shownin Tables 2 and 3. The telephone number data in the callers area 2includes the numberof placing calls in addition to the data of the firstembodiment shown in Table 1. In other respects, the arrangement of thisembodiment is the sameas that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1and 2. Only the differencewill be described.

In the first embodiment, in any of the calling according to the callersfunction, the calling according to the directory function and thecalling by inputting a telephone number by means of the dial keys, whenthe transmitted telephone number is present in the directory area 3, thenumber of placing calls of the telephone number is automatically renewedby being increased by one. In this embodiment, however, the automaticdatarenewal in the directory area 3 is not made in the calling accordingto thecallers function. Instead, when the user operates a key, the datain the directory area 3 is renewed based on the data in the callers area2.

In this case, the number of placing calls stored in the callers area 2is the number of calls placed by using the callers function. Theretrieval ofthe telephone number data from the callers area 2 is madebased on the reception time similarly to the first embodiment. The LCD55 of the sub unit 5 displays the number of placing calls stored in thecallers area 2 together with the telephone number and the receptiontime.

The processing performed by the sub unit 5 when a call is placed in thisembodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7.This flow is different from that of FIG. 5 only in that steps C21, C22andC23 are inserted between steps C20 and C24. The processing performedby thebase unit 1 corresponding to the processing of the sub unit 5 ofFIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 8. This flow is the same as that of FIG. 6except that stepsS19, S20 and S21 are inserted between steps S18 and S22and that the step S28 is replaced by steps S29 to S33.

As shown in FIG. 7, the processing performed by the sub unit 5 in thecalling according to the callers function or the directory functionstarted by operating the caller key 64 or the directory key 66 isperformed in the same manner as that of the first embodiment to stepC20. The processing by the base unit 1 is performed in the, similarmanner to step S18. However, as described above, according to thecallers function, the number of placing calls is transmitted from thebase unit 1 to the subunit 5 together with the telephone number and thereception time. These data are displayed at step C17.

In the sub unit 5, when the registering key 67 is operated while stepsC16 to C24 is repeated, the operation of the key 67 is detected at stepC21. At this time, when it is determined at step C22 that the processingis started by the operation of the callers key 64 performed at step C11,a registration signal is transmitted to the base unit 1 at step C23. Thebase unit 1 detects the registration signal at step S19, and adds thenumbers of placing calls of all the telephone numbers in the callersarea 2 to the corresponding numbers of placing calls of the telephonenumber data in the directory area 3 to renew the data in the directoryarea 3. When a data corresponding to the telephone number in the callersarea 2 isnot present in the directory area 3, the telephone number andthe number ofplacing calls of the number are newly added to thedirectory area 3. Thereafter, the numbers of placing calls of all thedata in the callers area 2 are set to 0 at step S21.

By the above processing, the numbers of placing calls in the callersarea 2are added to the number of placing calls in the directory area 3.For example, the telephone number data shown in Table 2 are renewed tothe data shown in Table 3. When the cursor key 68 is operated insuccession tothe renewal operation (step C18), the renewed telephonenumber data in the callers area 2 are displayed by the LCD 55. The usercan confirm that the renewal has been made since the number of placingcalls are 0. The telephone number displayed by the LCD 55 at that timecan be used by operating the calling key 63 (step C20), and theprocessing can be stoppedwithout placing any call by operating the endkey 65 (step C24).

Like the first embodiment, when the operation of the calling key 63 isdetected at step C20, the sub unit 5 performs the processing of stepsC26 to C29. The base unit 1 receives the calling signal at step S18, andperforms the processing of steps S23 to S27. Thereby, a call is placed.Inthis embodiment, the base unit 1 determines at step S29 whether thecall isplaced according to the callers function or not. When the call isplaced according to the callers function, at step S30, the number ofplacing calls the telephone number in the callers area 2 is renewed bybeing increased by one. When the call is not placed according to thecallers function, at step S31, whether the call is placed according tothe directory function or not is determined. When the call is placedaccordingto the directory function, at step S32, the number of placingcalls of the telephone number in the directory area 3 is increased byone. When the call is not placed according to the caller or thedirectory function, i.e.when the call is placed by inputting a telephonenumber by means of the dial keys 62, whether the transmitted telephonenumber is present in the directory area 3 or not is determined at stepS33. When it is present, thenumber of placing calls of the number isrenewed at step S32. In the calling by inputting the telephone number bymeans of the dial keys 22 of the base unit 1, when the telephone numberis present in the directory area 3, the number of placing calls of thenumber is renewed.

Thus, when a call is placed according to the callers function, thenumber of placing calls of the telephone number data in the callers area2 is renewed by being increased by one, and at this time, the data inthe directory area 3 is not renewed. In the calling according to thedirectoryfunction and in the calling by inputting a telephone number,the number of placing calls of the data in the directory area 3 isrenewed and the telephone number data in the callers area 2 is notrenewed.

According to the telephone apparatus of this embodiment, the telephonenumber data stored in the base unit 1 can be accessed at any time, andtheuser can add the number of placing calls stored in the callers area 2to the number of placing calls stored in the directory area 3 at anytime.

The method of controlling the telephone number data in the callers area2 and in the directory area 3 shown in the first and second embodimentsmay be employed not only for telephone apparatuses including the baseand sub units but also for telephone apparatuses including only oneunit.

The appearance of a cordless telephone apparatus of a third embodimentof the present invention is shown in FIG. 9. The arrangements of thebase andsub units 1 and 5 are shown in the block diagrams of FIGS. 10and 11, respectively. The base unit 1 of this embodiment includes theantenna 12, the transmitting circuit 13, the receiving circuit 14, thehandset 16, thechangeover circuit 15, the hybrid circuit 18, the lineconnecting circuit 11, the callers information detecting circuit 20, thereception detecting circuit 19, the dial transmitting circuit 21, thecontrolling circuit 10, the hook detecting circuit 17, the dial keys 22and the memory 23 including the callers area 2 and the directory area 3.These elements are connected in a manner similar to the first embodimentshown in FIG. 1 and perform the same functions.

In addition to these elements, a terminal 31 for charging to the subunit 5is provided. Power from an external power source is supplied tothe sub unit 5 through the charging terminal 31. The voltage at thecharging terminal 31 is monitored by the controlling circuit 10. Whilethe sub unitis being charged, a high-level signal is supplied to thecontrolling circuit 10. While the sub unit 5 is not being charged, alow-level signal is supplied. Electric power is supplied to the circuitsof the base unit 1from an arrow 32. The base unit 1 is provided with aspeaker 35. The changeover circuit 15 connects the speaker 35 to thehybrid circuit 18 so that the user can monitor the voice of a receivedcall without taking up the handset 16 from the base unit. Although notshown, the controlling circuit 10 is provided with a timer circuit forcounting an elapsed time.

The sub unit 5 of FIG. 11 includes, like the sub unit 5 of FIG. 2, theantenna 52, the transmitting circuit 53, the receiving circuit 54, theamplifiers 59 and 60, the speaker 56, the microphone 57, the bell 58,the LCD 55 and the key circuit 61. These elements perform the samefunctions as those of the first embodiment. Further, the sub unit 5 isprovided witha rechargeable battery 70 and a charging terminal 71connected to the battery 70. By placing the sub unit 5 on a chargingstand 9 of the base unit 1, the charging terminal 71 of the sub unit 5and the charging terminal 31 of the base unit 1 are connected, so thatthe battery 70 is charged by the power from the base unit 1. In the subunit 5, the power from the battery 70 is supplied to the circuits froman arrow 72 to drive the circuits. The battery 70 is charged while thesub unit 5 is placed on the base unit 1, so that the consumed power issupplemented.

The operations performed when a call is received and the operationsperformed when a call is placed with the sub unit 5 are the same asthose of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the telephonenumber inputted by means of the dial keys 22 of the base unit 1 when acall is placed with the base unit 1 is always transmitted to the subunit 5 and displayed by the LCD 55. In this embodiment, whether theinput by means ofthe dial keys 22 of the base unit 1 is displayed or notis determined basedon whether the sub unit 5 is placed on the base unit1 or not.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown a flowchart of the processingperformed by the base unit 1 when a call is placed with the base unit 1.First, at step S41, a data register for temporarily storing the numbersinputted by means of the dial keys 22 is cleared. Then, at step S42, aflag register F for storing information on whether the sub unit 5 isbeingcharged or not is set to 0. Then, at step S43, the voltage at thecharging terminal 31 is detected. At this time, when the controllingcircuit 10 receives a high-level signal, the sub unit 5 is beingcharged, and when the controlling circuit 10 receives a low-levelsignal, the sub unit 5 is not being charged. When the sub unit 5 isbeing charged, the timer is cleared at step S44, and the flag register Fis set to 1 at step S45. Then, the process proceeds to step S49. Whenthe sub unit 5 is not being changed, the timer is started at step S46,and the elapsed time is detected based on an output of the timer at step47. In this case, the timer has just been activated, and the processproceeds to step S49.

Then, at step S49, the operation of the dial keys 22 is detected. Whenthere is no input by means of the dial keys the process returns to stepS43, where whether the sub unit 5 is being charged or not is detectedagain. The process proceeds to step S46 again when the sub unit 5 is notbeing charged. However, when the timer has already been started, thestarted condition of the timer is maintained. The timer is started whenitis cleared at step S44. When it is determined at step S47 that five ormoreseconds have elapsed, the flag register F is set to 0 at step S48.The processing from S43 through S49 is repeated until the first numberof a telephone number is inputted by means of the dial keys 22. Thus,when the first number is inputted while the sub unit 5 is being charged,the flag register F is set to 1. The flag register F is also set to 1when the first number is inputted within five seconds after the sub unit5 is takenup from the base unit 1. In other cases, the followingprocessing is performed with the flag register F being set to 0.

When a number is inputted at step S49, the number is stored in the dataregister at step S50. The setting of the flag register F is determinedat step S51. When the flag register F is 1, the inputted number istransmitted to the sub unit 5 at step S52. The sub unit 5 receives thetelephone number and causes the display 55 to display it. When the flagregister F is 0, the process proceeds to step S53 without transmittingtheinput. At step S53, whether the telephone number has been inputted topredetermined figures or not is determined. When the input has notreachedthe predetermined figures, the process proceeds to S54 to waitfor the nextinput. When a number is inputted by means of the dial keys22, the process returns to step S50 to repeat the above-describedprocessing. When it is determined at step S53 that the telephone numberhas been inputted to the predetermined figures, the line connectingcircuit 11 is closed to make a connection with the telephone line L atstep S55. Then, at step S56, the inputted telephone number stored in thedata register is transmitted from the dial transmitting circuit 21.

Then, at step S57, the setting of the flag register F is detected. Whentheflag register F is 0, at step S58, whether the handset 16 is unhookedor not is determined based on an output of the hook detecting circuit17. When the handset 16 is unhooked, at step S59, the changeover circuit15 iscontrolled so that the handset 16 and the hybrid circuit 18 areconnected, so that a call is made with the base unit 1. When the handset16 is not unhooked, at step S60, the hybrid circuit 18 and the speaker35 are connected by the changeover circuit 15, so that the call ismonitored through the speaker 35. Then, the process returns to step S58.

When the flag register F is 1 at step S57, whether the sub unit 5 isbeing charged at that time or not is determined at step S61. When thesub unit 5is not being charged, at step S62, the transmitting circuit 13and the receiving circuit 14 are connected to the hybrid circuit 18 bythe changeover circuit 15, so that a call is made with the sub unit 5.When the sub unit 5 is being charged, at step S63, whether the handset16 is unhooked or not is detected by the hook detecting circuit 17. Whenthe handset 16 is unhooked, a processing similar to that of step S59 isperformed at step S64 so that a call is made with the base unit 1. Whenthe handset 16 is not unhooked, a processing similar to that of step S60is performed at step S65 so that the call is monitored through thespeaker35. Then, the process returns to step S61.

According to the above-described processing, when a call is placed withthesub unit 5 being placed on the base unit 1 or just after the sub unit5 is taken up from the base unit 1, the telephone number inputted bymeans of the dial keys 22 of the base unit 1 is displayed by the LCD 55of the sub unit 5. The user can confirm the inputted telephone number bylooking at the display on the sub unit 5 at hand. When a call is placedwith the baseunit 1 without the sub unit 5 being placed on the base unit1, the input bymeans of the dial keys 22 of the base unit 1 is nottransmitted to the sub unit 5, so that the useless irradiation of theelectric wave and the wasteof electric power are prevented. Since thecaller's telephone number is notdisplayed on the sub unit 5, the privacyof the user of the base unit 1 is protected.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown the arrangement of a privatetelephonesystem using a cordless telephone apparatus according to afourth embodiment of the present invention as a terminal apparatus. Amain apparatus 81 of the private telephone system includes a centralcontrolling portion 83, a line controlling portion 84, a main memory 85and a plurality of communication controlling portions 86. The mainapparatus 81 is connected to a public line L through the linecontrolling portion 84. To each of the communication controllingportions 86, a terminal telephone apparatus 82 including a base unit 1and a sub unit 5 is connected. Between the communication controllingportion 86 and the base unit 1 of the terminal apparatus 82, a callingline 87 and a data line 88 are arranged, so that the transfer of acalling signal and a data signal can be performed between the terminalapparatus 82 and the main apparatus 81.

In the main memory 85, information on the entire private telephonesystem including information on the terminal telephone apparatuses 82 isstored. The central controlling portion 83 controls the line controllingportion 84 and the communication controlling portions 86 based on theinformation stored in the main memory 85. The information on theterminal apparatuses 82 stored in the main memory 85 includes telephonenumbers, the condition of use as to whether the terminal apparatuses arebusy or not and translating telephone numbers for translating a callreceived by a terminal apparatus to another terminal apparatus.Receivers' telephone numbers and communication records of the terminalapparatuses 82 such as the time of call are also stored.

As the terminal telephone apparatuses 82, the cordless telephoneapparatus shown in the first or second embodiment is used. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the base unit 1 and the sub unit 5 of the terminalapparatus 82 are connected by wireless, and the base unit 1 has a memoryincluding the callers area and the directory area. Thus, a call can bemade both with the base unit 1 and with the sub unit 5, and the callerfunction and the directory function can be used.

To make a call with an external apparatus to the terminal telephoneapparatus 82 through the public line L, a telephone number particular tothe terminal apparatus is transmitted. Receiving the telephone number,thecentral controlling portion 83 checks the condition of use of theterminal apparatus 82 stored in the main memory 85. When the terminalapparatus 82 is not busy, the communication controlling portion 86 towhich the terminal apparatus 82 is connected is connected to the linecontrolling portion 84. Thereby, a reception signal is transmitted tothe terminal apparatus 82. The caller's telephone number is transmittedto the terminalapparatus 82 together with the reception signal andstored in the callers area. When the call is started by the base unit 1or the sub unit 5 of theterminal apparatus 82, the central controllingportion 83 stores in the main memory 85 that the terminal apparatus 82is busy, and after the end of the call, the central controlling portion83 stores in the main memory 85 that the terminal apparatus 82 is notbusy.

When the terminal apparatus 82 is busy, the caller's telephone number istransmitted to the terminal apparatus 82 to store it in the callersarea, and a busy signal is returned from the line controlling portion84.

When the translating telephone number is stored in the main memory 85, areception signal is transmitted to the terminal apparatus to which thecall is translated, and the caller's telephone number is transmitted tothe terminal apparatus which translates the call. Thereby, the callersinformation is stored in the terminal apparatus where the informationshould be stored, and the reception of the call by the terminalapparatus to which the call is translated is enabled. When the call isstarted, it is stored in the main memory 85 that the terminal apparatusto which the call is translated is busy.

The private telephone system is designed so that the calling between theterminal apparatuses 82 is possible. In this case, instead of theswitching station in the telephone service facility, the centralcontrolling portion 83 transmits the caller's telephone number. Thus,alsoin the extension call, the caller's telephone number is stored inthe callers area.

The call made with the terminal apparatus 82 can be placed both with thebase unit 1 and with the sub unit 5. To place a call with the base unit1,a telephone number is inputted by means of the dial keys 22 shown inFIG. 1. To place a call with the sub unit 5, a telephone number isinputted by means of the dial keys 62 of FIG. 2 or the callers or thedirectory function is used. These calling operations are as describedwith referenceto the first embodiment.

The data stored in the main memory 85 of the main apparatus 81 can bereferred to from the terminal apparatuses 82 through the centralcontrolling portion 83. Thereby, the communication record of theterminal apparatus 82 and the conditions of use of other terminalapparatuses can be found. A signal to request the reference to the mainmemory 85 from theterminal apparatus 82 and a data signal transmittedfrom the main apparatus81 to the terminal apparatus 82 are transmittedthrough the data line 88. The data line 88 is provided separately fromthe calling line 87 for transmitting a calling signal, so that the datatransfer can be performed even when the terminal apparatus 82 is busy.The data transmitted from themain apparatus 81 is displayed by the LCD55 of the sub unit 5 of the terminal apparatus 82.

If a telephone apparatus like the conventional cordless telephoneapparatuswhere the access from the sub unit to the base unit isinhibited when the base unit is busy is used in the private telephonesystem, the access fromthe sub unit to the main apparatus 81 will beimpossible when the base unitis busy, and the data in the main memory 85cannot be referred to from the sub unit 5. In the cordless telephoneapparatus of the present invention, however, the access from the subunit 5 to the base unit 1 is permitted even when the base unit 1 isbusy, and the data in the main memory 85 can be referred to from the subunit 5.

The callers area and the directory area may be provided not in theterminalapparatuses 82 but in the main memory 85. Since in the mainapparatus 81, alarge-capacity memory can be arranged and an externalmemory such as a discapparatus can be provided, a large number oftelephone number data can be stored in the callers and directory areas.In this case, these data are controlled not by the base unit 1 of eachterminal apparatus 82 but by thecentral controlling portion 83. Anidentification code is provided to each terminal apparatus 82, and thetelephone number data in the callers and directory areas are protectedbased on the identification codes of the terminal apparatuses 82.Specifically, to each data, an identification code corresponding to aterminal apparatus 82 is added, and only an accessfrom the terminalapparatus 82 having the identification code is permitted.Thereby,secrecy is protected. Since the access from the sub unit 5 to the mainapparatus 81 is possible even when the base unit 1 is busy, theoperation as shown in the second embodiment to add the number of placingcalls in the callers area to the number of placing calls in thedirectory area can be performed at any time.

Thus, the cordless telephone apparatus of the present invention isadvantageous in the use as a terminal apparatus of a private telephonesystem.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstoodthat within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced other than as specifically described.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                                          Directory Area                                              Callers Area                   Number of                                      Display                                                                              Telephone  Reception Telephone                                                                              Placing                                  Order  Number     Time      Number   Calls                                    ______________________________________                                        1      0742-35-0002                                                                             NOV. 01   03-3254-0001                                                                           21                                                         11:30                                                       2      06-364-0003                                                                              OCT. 31   0742-35-0002                                                                           20                                                         13:02                                                       3      03-3377-0005                                                                             OCT. 31   06-364-0003                                                                            13                                                         10:58                                                       4                           082-227-0004                                                                           10                                       5                           03-3377-0005                                                                           10                                       6                           0720-75-0006                                                                            7                                       7                           06-228-0007                                                                             5                                       8                           0862-33-0008                                                                            3                                       9                           03-3764-0009                                                                            2                                       10                          06-312-0010                                                                             1                                       ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Callers Area          Directory Area                                          Dis-  Tele-    Recep-   Number of                                                                             Tele-  Number of                              play  phone    tion     Placing phone  Placing                                Order Number   Time     Calls   Number Calls                                  ______________________________________                                        1     0742-35- NOV. 01  3       03-3254-                                                                             21                                           0002     11:30            0001                                          2     06-364-  OCT. 31  1       0742-35-                                                                             20                                           0003     13:02            0002                                          3     03-3377- OCT. 31  2       06-364-                                                                              13                                           0005     10:58            0003                                          4                               082-227-                                                                             10                                                                     0004                                          5                               03-3377-                                                                             10                                                                     0005                                          6                               0720-75-                                                                              7                                                                     0006                                          7                               06-228-                                                                               5                                                                     0007                                          8                               0862-33-                                                                              3                                                                     0008                                          9                               03-3764-                                                                              2                                                                     0009                                          10                              06-312-                                                                               1                                                                     0010                                          ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Callers Area          Directory Area                                          Dis-  Tele-    Recep-   Number of                                                                             Tele-  Number of                              play  phone    tion     Placing phone  Placing                                Order Number   Time     Calls   Number Calls                                  ______________________________________                                        1     0742-35- NOV. 01  0       0742-35-                                                                             23                                           0002     11:30            0002                                          2     06-364-  OCT. 31  0       03-3254-                                                                             21                                           0003     13:02            0001                                          3     03-3377- OCT. 31  0       06-364-                                                                              14                                           0005     10:58            0003                                          4                               03-3377-                                                                             12                                                                     0005                                          5                               082-227-                                                                             10                                                                     0004                                          6                               0720-75-                                                                              7                                                                     0006                                          7                               06-228-                                                                               5                                                                     0007                                          8                               0862-33-                                                                              3                                                                     0008                                          9                               03-3764-                                                                              2                                                                     0009                                          10                              06-312-                                                                               1                                                                     0010                                          ______________________________________                                    

We claim:
 1. A telephone apparatus comprising: first storing meansincluding an area for storing therein a plurality of telephone numbersand numbers of placing calls corresponding to the telephone numbers;second storing means for storing at least a telephone number; a dialtransmitting circuit for transmitting a telephone number to a telephoneline; a display for displaying a telephone number; and a controllingcircuit for reading out a telephone number from either of the first andthe second storing means and for controlling the dial transmittingcircuit to transmit the telephone number to the telephone line, saidcontrolling circuit causing the first storing means to display thetelephone numbers in an order of the number of placing calls,whereinsaid controlling circuit changes the number of placing calls of atelephone number stored in the first storing means which number is thesame as a telephone number read out from the second storing means, basedon calling by use of the telephone number read out from the secondstoring means.
 2. A telephone apparatus comprising: detecting means fordetecting a telephone number of a caller transmitted through a telephoneline when a call is received; first storing means for storing aplurality of telephone numbers detected by the detecting means and firstnumbers of placing calls corresponding to the telephone numbers; a dialkey; second storing means for storing a plurality of telephone numbersinputted by means of the dial key and second numbers of placing callscorresponding to the telephone numbers; a dial transmitting circuit fortransmitting a telephone number to the telephone line; a display fordisplaying a telephone number; and a controlling circuit for reading outa telephone number from either of the first and the second storing meansand for controlling the dial transmitting circuit to transmit thetelephone number to the telephone line, said controlling circuitchanging the number of placing calls in the storing means from which thetelephone number is read out and causing the second storing means todisplay the telephone numbers in an order of the second number ofplacing calls,wherein said controlling circuit has a mode in which datain the first storing means are stored in the second storing means, andin the mode, when a same telephone number is present in the first andsecond storing means, the controlling circuit adds the first number ofplacing calls to the second number of placing calls.